The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arraigned five people in a Chief Magistrates’ Court in the Ini Local Government Area of the state for allegedly stealing cassava worth N10 million from a cassava farm.
The suspects, three women and two men were said to have stolen the cassava from a farm owned by FEYREP, a pet project of the wife of the State Governor, Dr Martha Emmanuel.
- FG approves paternity leave for NITDA staff
- PIB: South-South governors demand10 per cent for host communities
It was gathered that the stolen cassava was meant for the upkeep of widows and the less privileged.
The case, with charge number MIN/7c/2021 between the accused persons and the Commissioner of Police, was presided over by Senior Magistrate Edehe-udim Joseph Akpabio.
The Magistrate admitted all the accused to bail in the sum of N5 million each and one surety each in like sum.
Senior Magistrate Akpabio described the offence as bailable and ordered that the sureties must be either public servant in the employ of Akwa Ibom State Government or a certificated traditional ruler.
The Court also held that the sureties must deposit their two recent passport-sized photographs, with a photocopy of their National Identity card or any other means of permanent identification.
The Magistrate also directed the accused persons to sign a register with the Assistant Chief Registrar of the Court every other Monday till the case is disposed of.
